Judge hears dispute over bison migration

Cattle producers say allowing bison that aren't tested for brucellosis to migrate onto Horse Butte Peninsula near Yellowstone National Park threatens the Montana beef industry. The producers on Tuesday asked District Judge John Brown in Bozeman to force the state to remove bison from the area more quickly than in recent years. Brown has not ruled on the case. The hearing focused on whether the Montana Stockgrowers Association and two ranchers in the West Yellowstone area can sue over how the state Department of Livestock implements the Interagency Bison Management Plan. The agreement between state and federal agencies sets protocols to prevent interaction between bison and cattle. John Bloomquist, a lawyer for the Stockgrowers Association and the ranchers, said local cattle producers could be devastated if bison are given more leeway in southern Gallatin County. "We have two livestock producers ... whose herds, whose livelihoods and whose economic viability, whose entire operation, is at risk if the Department of Livestock does not properly manage bison," he said. The Stockgrowers Association wants to force the state to haze all bison back into Yellowstone by May 15 and only allow bison to migrate to the area if they have not been exposed to brucellosis, a disease that causes pregnant cattle, elk and bison to miscarry...BillingsGazette